ratcatcher

I realise that this thread was about the correct use of Viagra, but can anyone tell me where to buy Viagra at the cheapest price. The pharmacy near Sukumvit Soi 4 on the way to the Marriott Hotel sells a 100mg tab for B480. Is this expensive for Bangkok. Also is it true that the drug Viagra can be purchased in India and Philippines for considerably less?

I have always had good success at getting spuds at Foodland, Villa foodshop and The Mall Food Centres. Usually quite large size and good for baking too. If you don't have to eat potatoes everyday then they aren't too expensive.

I guess they can't grow the lovely red spuds here in this climate. Idaho and Washington state still grow the best in the west.British tatties good too I believe.

Yes they should pay their dues.

If they earn money/receive money and if it is above any tax free threshhold of course they should pay.

And whats legal got to do with it?

Al Capone was not convicted for being a bootlegger, he was convicted and put away for tax evasion.

I left Canada because the government taxes everything from birth to death plus VAT. Also the western countries have many social services but Thailand does not.

I can imagine a bar girl telling a guy that "It's B1000 for short time plus 5% service tax plus 7% VAT, would you like a receipt ?"

I also think it would be next to impossible to prove how much a girl makes on the game if she's a freelancer. Different in the bars where there's bar fines and some sort of record.

Bargirls,as much as I sometimes enjoy talking and playing pool with them are after all prostitutes. Since prostitution is illegal in Thailand, can they be expected to pay income tax. How can you tax sin?

Also how can they be audited? Leave the bar girls alone, after all a lot of their earnings end up in family support systems back home in Isaan. Go after the rich bastards running the country and doing corrupt deals. Guaranteed Khun Thaksin and his cronies don't pay their fair share.

Eight pages of mostly positive feedback on a subject that seemingly gets alot of flack. Several of my friends and I are married or in long term relationships with good women who at one time or another spent time working in a bar or an equivalent place. I like all of them and totally agree that there are good and bad in all walks of life. I have never been threatened or hassled by a bargirl and most of the males who slag B.G's have been real <deleted> around these women.

The guys who really cause the problems are the ones who want to get laid for nothing after they have given a girl a complete gynaecological check up while sipping on a Heineken

I think most of the women who work in the farang oriented bars are strong characters but underneath that patina of toughness there often lurks a kind, loyal and, given the chance, considerate human being. And contrary to popular belief some of them make damned good partners. And please don't go on about the fact that they have nothing to talk about. I know many professional Thai women /University students who also have no conversation because they do not read enough books or the papers and know very little of what's happening outside Thailand.

If I want intellectual stimulation, I can seek out my farang friends for a beer and usually have more fun.

When I read about some of these women and the backgrounds they have come from it's enough to make the average guy weep. Poor Isaan farmers daughters from villages where all they can aspire to is getting on a bus to the big city of Bangkok or the lights of Pattaya or Patong.

Sure there are the career women who live for the next email from one of a dozen boyfriends scattered around the globe. They are clever and capable. They are no more evil than politicians or lawyers (if you consider them evil). The point is politicians and lawyers will screw you whether you like it or not. At least with B.G's you are usually in control if you are in Thailand. And even if you are in some other country and you send a girl some money, if it makes YOU feel good then so what.Just be aware that there are many scams going on too.

My compliments to Scamp who started this refreshing and interesting thread and to all the other posters who have made a contribution on this forum subject..

Speaking of beer, has anyone found the new Tiger beer on sale here in bangkok yet. Asked at Foodland today and was told about 2 weeks hence. Apparently it is being marketed by the heineken agency? Will it be priced in the mid range or down there with Cahng ,Leo,and Beer Thai. ie about B40 for a large at Thai "restaurants'.

Just wondering what it tastes like. I tried it in Singapore several years ago and quite liked it.

Fascinating reading and great food for thought. Considering the hundreds,if not thousands of farangs that have successfully partnered with a "lady from the hospitality industry", I am always amazed at some of the vitriol that is directed against some of these posters. Sure there are always bad women and bad men everywhere and just because a woman has had some experience in a bar or similiar establishment does not mean she is unworthy of consideration as a partner. There have been a great deal of very thoughtful posts on this thread as usual and I would like to make a few of points.

Several people have made the comment that a woman who works in a bar is "used goods" but please explain what difference there is between Liz Taylor, Pamela Anderson, Jennifer Lopez, Madonna and a bar girl. These are all famous,wealthy,actresses who have had several husbands and all have acted like whores at one time or another, the bargirl on the other hand is usually poor by western standards. Does this make them desirable? Very often a BG is good at lovemaking (not such a bad attribute) yet men who have shagged around for years often think they should marry a "virgin". Why? As long as the woman is disease free and there is mutual respect and admiration.

The majority of girls who come from poor upcountry towns to work the bars in Bangkok or the seaside holiday resorts like Pattaya or Patong are hoping to find a farang who will look after them in a relationship. The ones that make a career of the bar life are the real clever gold diggers and they successfully carve out a life of massaging ageing farangs egos and other areas while they are here on holiday. These are the ones who usually meet a sucker and clean him out and then look for the next prey. Think of them as sharks,beautiful to look at but still dangerous unless you know what you are doing.

Anyone who has spent time here or lives here knows that some bargirl - farang relationships work just fine thank you very much. The girls are fiercely loyal, strong and trustworthy.

Some readers categorize a farang that settles down with a bargirl as a loser? Why? Many of these men get their intellectual stimulation from their fellow farangs and good for them. I doubt very much whether even a university educated Thai female has enough English and knowledge to intelligently discuss the political situation in the Kingdom or anywhere else for that matter. I know whereof I speak as I have taught them and they are just as vacuous and naiive as most of the females in the general population. Christ, it's even hard to get an opinion out of a mature Thai female teacher. Take a look at all the bland dolls in Robinson/Central/The Mall cosmetics departments and see if there is anything there that would last more than a month. If I am wrong I'm sorry.

I am certain that more readers have married bar girl types than "straight" Thai women. Many Thai families are reluctant to have a farang in the family as they feel it possibly gives the wrong impression to other Thais. No doubt those who have made relationships with middle class girls will complain.

Generally if the bargirl has a good grasp of street English, a mobile phone that glows in the dark, has a few gold trinkets and passable email skills then she has usually been on the game for a while and will probably continue as the lifestyle is hard to leave. So guys let's not be too hardon the girls (NPI ) and the men that love 'em. Live and let die.

Just my 25 Satangs worth.

Wonderful news.

His Majesty the king is to open the Subway on July 3rd. (Will that be foot long or 6 inch Sire?) Another rolling candy store?

Now, how about finishing the skytrain to beyond Ratchadapisek road in Thonburi which is at least 3 km. Surely the traffic jams on Saphan Taksin and Sathorn Road would diminish if some of those thousands of car owners could jump onto the skytrain. Makes one wonder why the holdup. (Oh yes, T.I.T.) Perhaps the bus and ferry operators have something to do with it or maybe it's just a case of the Skytrain operating company has no extra money to lay the tracks.(Must be the only thing in Bangkok that's not getting laid.) It would make a great track for motorcycle races too.

This is an old and always interesting topic. Farang men come to Thailand, usually as tourists, meet a Thai girl ,quite often in the "hospitality"industry and before you can say "my bpen rai" they want to take her back to wherever they came from. Sort of "Look at the exotic babe I found"attitude.("Trophy Girls"). Goes down well at the local pubs or clubs back in the west for a while and then things sometimes start to unravel and she gets homesick for the weather and som tam.

Getting married to a Thai woman regardless of where she comes from is,like anywhere else, a serious business, IMHO. The "Buddhist wedding" is merely ceremonial (it's her religion and she deeply respects it) and makes everybody feel good, especially the woman's family, as you have just raised her status to that of "Mia Farang". Face has been gained.

The civil ceremony is very cheap after you have produced all the necessary paperwork (divorce certificate, if any, etc) .Immigration will look closely at all documents and may request photos of your dwelling or the police may inspect and ask questions to see if you are indeed living together or if your address is the Nana Hotel.

When you are applying for a visa to take your wife back to your home country (for a holiday?) I believe it is best to be truthful and have your stories agreeing as the embassy staff can see through a sham relationship in no time flat.

Many expats on these type of boards agree that for the most part Thai women prefer life in Thailand to life in the west,providing their farang partner is looking after them and the family. Thai women ,like women elsewhere,are not commodities to be married and divorced merely for the satisfaction of western men.

OK I've got my flak jacket on. Nuff sed.

I have just returned from Immigration Suan Phlu after applying for my non-immigrant "O" marriage visa. Showed B200,000+ in bank and was informed next year I will need B400,000. So much for all the chatter about "Grandfathering" What about "motherfckuing" ?

No other problems as I had ALL our papers in order. Just confirming what Astral above said. Take a newspaper as you'll have lots of time to read.

Also, for the lucky fellas rushing around trying to find a suitable Thai wife between now and July 4th-Good luck! Immigration staff ask quite a few questions like "How long have you known your wife? Where did you meet"? etc. I think they can tell if you are being economical with the truth. They like to see photos of the wedding and photos of your residence. For the chaps living in hotels near Soi 4 ,you'd better have a good story and tell "Noi" to leave the gold at home, wear conservative clothes and speak only when spoken to and in Thai only.

Not being an expert on visa laws, I am wondering,wouldn't "jitheart " have to apply for a marriage visa from within Thailand by providing Immigration departement with the relevant documentation such as marriage certificates,proof of funds,wife's house registration and I.D.etc. Just wondering as the post is totally lacking in "infamayshun"

I am living in Thailand working as an English teacher, recently married to a Thai lady. I am on a 1 year Non-Immigrant B visa (expires October 4 2004) My annual teaching income is B400,000. I am 58 years old and will obviously not be able to teach for many more years. My work permit for my present contract job is under process at the moment.

My boss has advised me not to apply for a Non-Immigrant "O" (Marriage visa) while the work permit is being processed. (apparently ,it would confuse the Immigration office???) I wanted to apply for the marriage visa while the requirement for bank funds was still B200,000 (ie. before July deadline). Can anyone tell me if there would be a potential problem if I did apply for marriage visa at this time ? Apparently one cannot have a marriage visa with a non Imm "B" . Correct? HELP!!!

I am living in Thailand working as an English teacher, recently married to a Thai lady. I am on a 1 year Non-Immigrant B visa (expires October 4 2004) My annual teaching income is B400,000. I am 58 years old and will obviously not be able to teach for many more years. My work permit for my present contract job is under process at the moment.

My boss has advised me not to apply for a Non-Immigrant "O" (Marriage visa) while the work permit is being processed. (apparently ,it would confuse the Immigration office???) I wanted to apply for the marriage visa while the requirement for bank funds was still B200,000 (ie. before July deadline). Can anyone tell me if there would be a potential problem if I did apply for marriage visa at this time ? Apparently one cannot have a marriage visa with a non Imm "B" . Correct? HELP!!!